The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a double suicide bombing in Kabul on Monday that left at least 21 people dead, including four journalists. It appeared that the journalists were intentionally targeted by a bomber who hid among members of the media rushing to cover the first explosion.

Afghan government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on Wednesday described the attack on journalists as a crime against the freedom of press and humanity.

"... targeting journalists goes beyond imagination, these are attacks against which we want to react extremely and strongly and not just convey our condolences to the people of Afghanistan, but ensure them that all should be done for this kind of outrage not to be repeated", said Mayaudon.

"The murder of journalists and other innocent people is a great testimony to what it is we stand for, and more importantly what we stand against", Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon.

The murder of journalists and other innocent people was a great testimony to what the U.S. stood for, and more importantly, what it stood against, the secretary remarked. "The Taliban realize the danger of the people being allowed to vote", Mattis said.

"We've had some groups of Taliban, small groups, who have either started to come over or expressed an interest in talking", he said.

In November, Army Gen. John Nicholson, the top USA commander in Afghanistan, called President Trump?s new Afghan strategy a "game changer" that he said put the Afghan government forces?on a path to a win.

In a third attack 11 children were killed and 16 people wounded, including foreign and Afghan security force members, when a suicide attacker exploded his bomb-laden vehicle near a convoy in the southern province of Kandahar. He also indicated the actual numbers of Afghan troops doesn't matter, rather, it's how capable they are in deterring the enemy.

The Afghan military was being made more capable, he said, adding numerous personnel were special forces, advised, assisted and accompanied by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation mentors.

According to the SIGAR report, Taliban and other militant groups control or influence 14 percent of the 407 districts in Afghanistan - the highest level since 2015, when the group started recording data.

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